Pretty Boy tucked the hefty bag of spirit stones into his robe, magnanimously forgiving Zhao Yu for the attempted murder.
But Luo Luo wasn’t so forgiving.
Like a firecracker spitting sparks, she leaped forward, sword still sheathed, and proceeded to pummel Zhao Yu mercilessly.
“How dare you kill fish! How dare you kill fish!”
“Oof—ow—ah—” Pretty Boy winced from the sidelines.
Beating up a patron like this… well, it pricked his conscience a little.
Ahem. Mostly because it might hurt his future earnings.
Seeing Luo Luo about to launch a flying kick, Pretty Boy swiftly reached out, hooked an arm around her waist, and yanked her back midair.
Luo Luo flailed her legs, unable to reach her target, which only fueled her fury.
Glaring down, she belatedly realized his hand was the one restraining her—his lean, firm forearm pressed against her waist, his long fingers gripping her side, leaving a distinct imprint.
A bolt of lightning seemed to strike her head. A deafening boom echoed in her ears, her cheeks tingling with numbness.
Before she could catch her breath, her back collided with his chest—he had pulled her in, arm locking her against him, and simply carried her off like that.
Luo Luo froze like a wooden doll.
As he strode away, he casually waved his free hand at Zhao Yu, signaling that the matter was settled.
Patron Zhao, wiping blood from his nose, gazed pitifully at the two figures bathed in sunlight—one tall and insolent, the other deceptively cute yet vicious.
So… so familiar!
After walking a distance, Pretty Boy set Luo Luo down and leaned in, staring at her as if she’d grown a second head.
She was spacing out again.
Lately, she’d learned to control her inner thoughts. Right now, clearly not wanting him to know what she was thinking, she was loudly singing in her mind.
…Well.
This was his first time discovering that someone could mentally sing off-key. Truly an eye-opener.
He flicked her forehead.
“What’s with the daze?”
Luo Luo, still statue-like, slowly turned her eyes toward him, voice faint: “I’m not dazing.”
He released her, but the sensation of his hard knuckles and arm against her skin refused to fade.
The fabric there burned as if about to catch fire.
Their eyes met. She paused, then casually looked away—her ears rapidly flushing crimson.
He narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked. “Why the blush?”
Luo Luo’s breath hitched.
He lifted a hand, tapping her shoulder with his fingertip: “Back then, when you shamelessly fantasized about me, climbed into my bed, threw yourself at me, and seduced me in every way possible, I never saw you blush.”
Luo Luo gaped at his audacity: “You were the one who did all those things!”
He tilted his head closer, delivering a lethal smile: “Then why do you turn red every time I get near you now?”
Luo Luo resisted the urge to bolt: “…”
Her inner voice spiraled: Don’t blush don’t blush don’t blush! Aaaah, stop it! Face! I order you not to redden!
Yet her cheeks disobeyed, growing hotter until they rivaled the sunset.
Why the blush? Because of thoughts she didn’t dare dwell on. Luo Luo had only ever fallen for one person, only ever blushed for one person.
After that battle at the Divine Palace, she’d already sensed it—she just hadn’t dared believe it.
He poked her burning cheek.
“Tsk!” He pretended his finger had been scalded, jumping back and shaking his hand with a bright, infuriating grin. “Your face could fry fish!”
Luo Luo, humiliated beyond words, clenched her fists and stomped ahead, banging her feet against the bronze-patterned floor as if it were his face.
Fry fish? Fry him like a fish!
“Hey, hey!” He caught up, grinning. “How’d you know that fish was me?”
Luo Luo took a deep breath, slowly turning to feign calm: “…Half a head walking down the street couldn’t belong to any other fish, could it? And how did you know?”
He shrugged. “Recognized the medicine pestle.”
Luo Luo frowned. “Then why not beat him up?”
He waved a hand, sighing like a weary old man: “Too many enemies, too little time. Try being a mosquito someday—you’ll have dozens of people swatting at you.”
Luo Luo: “…”
Why would she ever be a mosquito?
She feigned nonchalance: “So all those birds, bugs, demons… and mosquitoes… they were all you?”
“Yep.” He plucked a long blade of grass and chewed on it, the end flicking as he spoke. “No idea how I shattered into so many pieces.”
Her heart ached.
Softly, she asked: “Do you remember nothing?”
He shot her a sidelong glance, smirking arrogantly: “If I remembered everything, what use would you be? Don’t forget—I spared your life so you could work for me.”
Luo Luo: “…”
Too exhausted to argue.
She glared at him, but after a moment, a lazy warmth spread through her chest.
—You’re Li Zhaoye.
—I’m the reason you’re alive. Your purpose for living.
—You fed me, in every form—bird, bug, demon, or god—you never forgot to find me.
It was the truth, but without proof, it sounded like madness. She’d rather die than say it aloud.
And she’d never let him hear it in her thoughts. He’d laugh himself sick.
She knew him too well.
“Oh.” She nodded. “Help you regain your memories. Got it.”
He hissed, eyebrows shooting up: “What’s that tone? Mocking me? You’re getting bolder by the day!”
Luo Luo skipped past him, quickening her steps.
Her lips betrayed a smile.
After a few paces, she glanced back: “Li Zhaoye, hurry up!”
He: “…”
After a long glare, he dragged his feet with exaggerated reluctance: “Coming.”
Higher up on the celestial walkway, Gu Meng encountered someone.
“Miss Gu,” Yue Ranchen studied her with peach-blossom eyes, then declared confidently, “You’ve been wronged!”
Bathed in sunlight, his opulent robes complemented his striking features, making it hard to dislike him.
With a graceful flick of his fan, he stopped at a polite distance and cut straight to the point: “Tch. Some people, after losing a competition, take their frustration out on you, hm?”
Gu Meng’s head snapped up, shock and grievance flashing in her eyes: “You—”
“How do I know?” Yue Ranchen fanned himself, clicking his tongue. “Men—they’re all the same. When have they ever truly understood a woman’s heart? If I’m not mistaken, this isn’t the first time he’s neglected your feelings, is it?”
Gu Meng’s eyes reddened instantly.
Elder Brother Li was like that. When training, he forbade interruptions. All her efforts to please him went unnoticed.
“Unlucky in love,” Yue Ranchen sighed. “A beauty like you, with such skill—why chain yourself to one unworthy tree? Why not consider those who truly admire you?”
Gu Meng stamped her foot: “How dare you speak to me like this! Such disrespect!”
"Wait, wait, don’t misunderstand," Yue Ranchen said with a smile. "My feelings for Miss Gu are purely admiration—the kind one has for a friend."
"I don’t want to talk to you. I’m in a bad mood!"
Gu Meng pretended to leave, but Yue Ranchen caught up to her, grinning. "Friends are meant to help ease sorrows. Since he hasn’t come looking for you, why bother chasing after him? Let me take you around instead. There are several exquisite sights here that outsiders rarely get to see."
As the son of the Heavenly Path Sect’s leader, he was the host of these lands.
In the brief moment Gu Meng spoke with him, she noticed many envious glances directed her way.
It was hard not to feel a little proud.
‘Look, Elder Brother Li! It’s not like no one wants me! If you don’t cherish me, there are plenty of outstanding men who’d fight for me!’
She gave a slight nod. "Fine, but only for a little while."
Yue Ranchen bowed slightly, flicked open his fan, and smiled. "After you."
The two strolled through one scenic spot and were heading to the next when suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead.
"Young Master, something’s happened," a steward rushed up from behind, stopping half a step behind Yue Ranchen and lowering his voice. "A woman’s body was found in the Law Enforcement Division’s quarters—on the Young Sect Leader’s bed, no less."
Yue Ranchen staggered as if struck. "Tsk… What’s wrong with my elder brother this time?"
He waved the steward away, then turned to Gu Meng with a troubled expression. "Miss Gu, could you do me a favor?"
"What kind of favor?"
Yue Ranchen rubbed his temple with the handle of his fan. "Just tell anyone who asks that you’ve been with me the whole time since you parted ways with your companion."
Gu Meng’s eyes widened. "You… Are you the killer? You want me to lie for you?"
"Pfft!" Yue Ranchen burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Miss Gu, you’re overthinking it. I don’t even have cultivation—how could I possibly sneak into the Law Enforcement Division’s territory to kill someone? Besides, I was up there the whole time you were arguing with your Elder Brother Li. I saw everything."
He pointed with his fan toward a high copper hammock meant for sightseeing.
Gu Meng didn’t know whether to feel embarrassed or annoyed. "You—how could you be like this?"
So he had seen Elder Brother Li scolding her, yet he played the role of a sympathetic confidant so convincingly.
Yue Ranchen chuckled. "So don’t worry. I was right here the whole time—no way I could be the killer. I just don’t feel like dealing with the hassle. Too exhausting."
Gu Meng studied him, feeling both disappointed and puzzled. "You really have no cultivation? How is that possible?"
Wasn’t he the Sect Leader’s son?
Yue Ranchen sighed bitterly. "I really don’t. Everyone in the world knows—how could it be fake? I was born with leaky meridians; not a drop of spiritual power stays in me. The glamorous appearance you see? All propped up by elixirs and treasures."
Gu Meng nodded. "Then there’s nothing to be done. If anyone asks, I can say I was with you."
Yue Ranchen waved his hand dismissively. "Might not even come up. Let’s go take a look at the crime scene first."
In broad daylight, another life had been lost.
A crowd had gathered outside the Law Enforcement Division’s headquarters.
Luo Luo spotted the stern-faced Master Lingxue immediately.
"Sect Master Uncle!"
She tugged Pretty Boy along as they squeezed through the crowd toward Master Lingxue.
Master Lingxue gave a slight nod, her expression as cold and detached as ever.
Beside her stood a frowning, rotund man who resembled a wealthy mortal merchant. When he saw Luo Luo, the creases between his brows deepened further, as if they could now crush a cockroach. "Little friend, must you truly leave this old man no face at all?"
Luo Luo: "?"
Pretty Boy leaned in and whispered, "Your esteemed sect."
Earlier, during the competition, she had repeatedly referred to them as "your esteemed sect," scolding them like they were misbehaving children.
Luo Luo suddenly understood. "Ah… Sect Leader Fengyue."
The plump man huffed. "Hmph."
Luo Luo knew she ought to exchange pleasantries, so she stepped forward and said cordially, "Did your son kill someone again?"
Sect Leader Fengyue: "…"
Pretty Boy: "Pfft."
Even Master Lingxue, who was terrible at social interactions, twitched at the corner of her eye.
Sect Leader Fengyue bristled. "My son is innocent!"
Luo Luo thought to herself: Who isn’t innocent? Even that unlucky ghost in the underworld claimed he was wronged.
"Come, come, let’s all go investigate together!" Sect Leader Fengyue thumped his chest, projecting an air of righteousness. "Let’s go!"
Luo Luo wasn’t about to refuse. "Sure."
Sect Leader Fengyue snorted and led the way into the Law Enforcement Division’s hall.
Past the main hall, they entered a rectangular courtyard flanked by east and west wings. At the northern end of the courtyard was the crime scene—a single room in the wing.
The previous night’s murder remained unsolved, and Yue Wugou had been confined here to avoid suspicion.
Luo Luo’s group crossed the courtyard, climbed three copper steps, and entered the room. The furnishings inside were sparse, leaving little to the imagination.
Yue Wugou stood by the window, dressed in a moon-white robe, speaking quietly with two elder-like cultivators.
"I truly did not kill anyone."
"I never left this room and have no idea how the body ended up on my bed."
His tone was utterly detached, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
The man was impeccably dressed—slender, handsome, his features untouched by worldly concerns. Not a speck of blood stained him.
The bed, however, told a different story. Torn garments were strewn across it, some even littering the floor.
The victim lay naked, her legs twisted into an obscene position, multiple stab wounds marring her body. The final blow had been a dagger plunged into her heart.
Her eyes were wide open, frozen in death’s indignation.
Blood soaked the bedding, dripping in thick rivulets down the copper frame before congealing between the bed and its footrest.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Heavenly Path Sect’s investigation elder couldn’t openly shield the suspect. He reported grimly to Sect Leader Fengyue, "So far, we’ve only detected the Young Sect Leader’s and the victim’s spiritual signatures on the bed."
All eyes turned to Yue Wugou.
His expression remained unreadable as he lowered his gaze and said calmly, "By all means, investigate. I await the results."
Another elder coughed into his fist. "Well, it is his bed. Finding his spiritual traces there isn’t unusual—that alone can’t be considered evidence."
Master Lingxue frowned deeply. "Yue Wugou, if you claim you never left this room, how could a murder happen right under your nose without you noticing?"
"My apologies," Yue Wugou said with a slight bow. "I dozed off by the window for a moment. When I awoke, this was the scene."
Everyone: "…"
Even the Heavenly Path Sect elders struggled to keep a straight face, rubbing their temples as if nursing headaches. "Young Sect Leader…"
Couldn’t you at least offer a slightly plausible explanation?
A clamor rose from outside.
Soon, someone rushed in to report, "Two of the top hundred Qingyun contestants say their junior sister is missing. They’re demanding to come in."
Sect Leader Fengyue, still at a loss regarding the victim’s identity, waved a hand. "Bring them in to identify the body."
After a moment’s thought, he gestured for the elders to cover the corpse with a white cloth.
Two young men burst in, their robes fluttering with urgency.
With trembling eyes, they approached the bed.
Though the bloodstains on the floor had dried, stepping on them still produced a sticky, squelching sound.
"Whew—"
The two let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. "It's not Little Shimei!"
Their faces briefly lit up with joy before they quickly schooled their expressions, clasping their hands in apology. "Our deepest apologies, truly."
Luo Luo recognized these two.
They had rescued a family of three at the training grounds, and later, Little Shimei had returned to save several more.
Luo Luo asked, "Is she missing? How did it happen?"
Both men shook their heads. "We were walking along the Heavenly Corridor when she suddenly vanished. We searched everywhere, asked everyone nearby—no one saw her."
After scouring the area with no luck, they had heard rumors of a woman found dead on Yue Wugou's bed. The news had felt like the sky collapsing.
Though it was disrespectful to the deceased… they couldn’t help but feel relieved it wasn’t their shimei.
From the window, Yue Wugou spoke.
"The woman who died last night went missing six hours before her death."
His gaze turned toward Luo Luo as he spoke. His voice was pleasant but utterly devoid of inflection, as if he had severed all ties to emotion.
Luo Luo found herself studying him intently, so absorbed that she didn’t notice Pretty Boy tugging at her sleeve twice.
Just then, Yue Ranchen entered with several attendants.
"Father, esteemed elders!" Yue Ranchen bowed in greeting before gesturing behind him. "This old man claims his daughter vanished last night—around six hours ago."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the elderly man.
Stumbling forward, the man froze at the sight of the corpse on the bed. A choked, anguished wail tore from his throat: "My child…!"
Master Lingxue shot a cold glare at Sect Leader Fengyue.
Before she could speak, Sect Leader Fengyue raised his hands in surrender. "My fault, my fault! Investigate this—immediately!"
What wretched luck!
Why was it that whenever someone else hosted the Azure Cloud Gathering, everything went smoothly?
Amid the chaos, the two disciples exchanged horrified glances. "Then Little Shimei…"
Missing for six hours… and then death?
Suddenly, Pretty Boy crossed his arms and sauntered up to Yue Wugou.
Narrowing his eyes, he plucked a single long strand of hair from the pristine seam of Yue Wugou’s moon-white robe.
With a challenging smirk, Pretty Boy drawled, "Well, Pretty Boy? Care to explain what this is?"
